All rights belong to Rick Riordan
Chapter 103
I Hate This City
(Percy)
I was brought back to conscious by the repeated sensation of something gently but repeatedly poking me in my right cheek.
"Five more minutes." I muttered sleepily brushing a hand up in an effort to swat the disturbance away but without success.
However it became abundantly clear I was not getting a choice in this matter when I felt the sudden arrival of a burden on my lower chest momentarily winding me and causing me to wrench my eyes open.
Finding myself face to face with my Fiancée's Roman half with only inches between our noses as her silver eyes locked with mine mischievously.
"Do I even want to know what you were thinking of with that grin you had? Then again maybe I already know." She said grinning whilst sitting back and pressing herself back a little against my groin causing me some level of discomfort.
It was almost strange the way in the last few days the goddesses (especially Diana) had changed their stance on how we interacted when we in private. A few weeks back and playing tonsil tennis was a rare but not unwelcome occurrence but now… Well just short of doing the deed again there was very little we had not tried. Once Artemis tried something so did Diana almost out of principle… A lot. Plus a few things the Greek goddess had not tried yet…
I guess it was due to the fact that pretty much everyone knew now that we were engaged and that they were pregnant. So there was no pressure on that front anymore either that or she had inherited her father's legendary libido.
Still I was not complaining, I mean who would in my place obviously with two smoking hot goddesses almost literally sometimes fighting over me. At least they used different tactics of trying to get me out of my clothes. The domineering but not unpleasant method used by Artemis or the cuter and yet more seductive technique of Diana.
If anything the only downside was the lack of rest that I was used to causing me to be so damned tired. Something the tag teaming goddesses apparently did not experience.
Still noticing the fact that she was actually fully clothed gave me the assumption that she was not actually interested in doing anything currently.
"Where is Artemis?" I asked raising an eyebrow getting a frown in response.
"Please don't give me that Diana I am only being curious, she was here before after all."
"Across the road with the hunters finishing dealing with a situation they had a while back." She said folding her arms across her chest.
"Thalia or Zoe… or Marina?" I added remembering my niece was there as well now.
"Two out of three, Marina decided to flood Thalia's room and we had to go save them." She explained shrugging her shoulders.
"Reyna alright as well then?" I asked curiously earning an accusative stare from the goddess as if she trying to read my mind.
"What do you know about Thalia and Reyna's… how should I put it, friendship?" She asked and I got the feeling this was a loaded question.
"Will I get hit if I answer truthfully?"
"So that's a yes then. You know you should not be keeping secrets from me, especially regarding my hunter's." She said attempting to sound menacing and failing due to the grin she had plastered across her face.
"Sorry?" I apologised grinning back only for her to unfold her arms and place them both on my chest pushing me down into the mattress as she leaned forward once again narrowing the gap between our faces.
"So it had absolutely nothing to do with you finding something 'hot' about it." She suggested eyes looking into mine.
"Thalia is my cousin-. Please don't hit me." I pleaded realising that I really could not use that excuse considering she was her sister and therefore my cousin was marrying me and currently carrying my children. If anything Thalia was more like my semi-violent 'older' younger sister in the way we treated each other.
"Good to know for reference. I need to know my future husband's taste after all." She said almost playfully suddenly getting off of me and procuring a chair in the corner before taking a seat.
"I am not getting any privacy am I?" I asked the goddess who only leant forward placing her chin on her bridged fingers staring at me.
"You gave me this 'look all I want' coupon and I intend to use it." She said holding her engagement ring for me to see before resuming her previous position watching me.
"Yeah well what can I say I like to try before I buy?" I commented back with a grin knowing I was going to regret that comment at some point as her face belied no emotion, behind that gears were probably already plotting her revenge.
Still despite my audience I still had to get changed at some point, much as I wanted to have a day off and just sleep. Well the goddess's would make sure that was not going to happen. The only person who could get away with procrastination around here was her after all.
Still as I turned in a small attempt at modesty as I put boxer shorts on, it did not take long for the goddess to sneak up behind me as I felt a cool finger brush across my back causing me to straighten up at the sensation.
"Such a shame to make you put a shirt on, but the girls may get the right idea." She whispered before giggling as she brushed a finger across an area of exceptionally sensitive skin.
Making my way across to the mirror on the other side of the room and turning around and looking over my shoulder I looked in almost horror at my back. Across the whole surface was long red lines originating near my spine before tapering off near the edges.
"Is there anywhere you did not scratch?" I asked turning back to the goddess who merely shrugged with an innocent smile.
"Are you saying I should try harder? I did not hear you complaining at the time."
"I was a little distracted. I must not have noticed you had turned into Freddy Kreuger's hot cousin." I said turning back to look at the mirror and wince as I ran my hand over one group of four parallel channels dug into my back.
It after all was rather ironic that I could get shot in the head by a handgun and it would leave less physical damage on me than Diana getting over excited. Hell, even getting my arm cut off only left a very faint scar possibly and a difference in tan line on my arm as the only evidence it had even happened.
"Would it help if I said sorry?" Diana asked appearing behind me and wrapping her arms around me.
"I suppose it would be a start." I told her grinning before spinning around so we were now face to face again.
"Well unfortunately I do not give verbal apologies. However I am sure I can think of something else instead?" She teased pecking a kiss on my lips before suddenly heading towards the door.
It was at this moment where something unfortunate but which I secretly found hilarious happened. As she reached for the handle and went to throw it open without breaking stride. She had obviously forgotten the fact that the door like the rest of the house was locked down and completely unyielding.
The obvious result of this was that she walked into it face first before falling back on her backside with a whine of indignation as she clenched her nose. As if to make sure she had not broken it she gently pushed the tip of her nose side to side before looking at me, her face flushed.
"Not a word. Now open the damned door." She commanded in a far higher tone of voice than usual clearly trying not to throw a tantrum at looking the idiot for once.
As for me I was busy trying to hold a straight face as I walked over and turned the door knob before gently pulling it open as if it was the easiest thing in the world before leaning down and helping her up. My next action was completely unnecessary and dripping with sarcasm as I half bowed and waved my arm towards the now open doorway.
I could see the goddess biting her tongue as she passed me and left the room. Something was going to pay for this and I was just hoping it was not going to be me. After a few second she passed the corner and I heard her stomping down the staircase.
After a few seconds of silence came a quiet "Owww" as she obviously thought she was beyond my earshot. As I said before we immortals brush off potentially (to mortals at least) fatal injuries as nothing, gunshots, stab wounds, Electrocution, severe blunt force trauma. All of them are in a day's work, stubbing your toe, head-butting a door, scratches and grazes, they still hurt like hell no matter what you were. Hell even dismemberment was only a minor setback once the initial shock wore off.
Still while she was downstairs calming down and getting over her embarrassment I got some time alone. Time that recently I had been starting to miss, not that I didn't want to be around the goddess's but the simple thing was they could both be increasingly irrational due to their pregnancies or alternatively wanting constant attention in an effort to one up each other. Add to that all of the crap that happened since the Solstice with Perseus and coming to New Rome and frankly I was just exhausted mentally.
I had almost hoped that since the truth was out things would be easier to deal with, but if anything it had only become more hassle. Hell it was easier when everyone thought I was dead, because as it was I knew before long I was going to get dragged back into the Demigod's political squabbling due to the six seemingly not doing their own damned job very well.
I had enough dealing with Orthry's politics in the first place, I was now dragged into Olympus's by association. I really did not need to add the camp's to that list and by that I meant the Roman's. Not being biased but the Greeks did what needed to get done and didn't make political strife out of camp chores the same way this city did.
If anything the only real issue with the Greeks was that the senior campers like Clarisse and Will were becoming adults and most of those that were a year or two younger than them had unfortunately been killed in the Titan War or in lead up to the second Gigantomachy. Of course I hadn't been a camper for almost two years now so things could have changed but I wasn't so sure.
But wasn't that the point of the gods of heroes to guide the demi-gods and provide an example as well as guidance.
"Urgh. Why can't things ever just be simple?" I muttered to myself walking across the room before collapsing on the bed face first.
(Artemis)
"Take a seat Marina." I told the black haired girl firmly who was standing in the corner of the room shuffling her foot before pulling out one for myself.
Almost reluctantly she slowly moved towards the chair on the opposite side of the table to myself avoiding eye contact with me. The only real sign of attention I got out of her was when I placed the glass of water on the table in front of me as her eyes opened wide before focusing on the glass.
"So I guess it goes without saying you have hydro-kinesis?" I asked the girl who was still focusing on the glass which I now noticed was now starting to move of its own accord. Or rather it was until I clicked my fingers and it suddenly emptied.
"Marina please look at me because I do not appreciate talking to myself. Besides the rebellious little girl act does not work with me because I pretty much invented it. So can you kindly explain what happened upstairs and why you decided to give Thalia and Reyna a bath?"
"Salt Water." She mumbled.
"Pardon."
"I can only control salt water, though I cannot create it out of nothing like you or my father can. That was why I needed the glass… I guess I am sorry about Reyna getting wet." She added with a shrug.
"Good enough, Thalia is an acquired taste I guess. At first we disliked each other massively and she is my sister after all. Still I cannot condone my hunters, which does include you now oath or not, harming one another. We face enough threats without having to look over our shoulders at one another. Besides you are an unknown, you are only the second child of Triton to ever live and you are nothing like your sister was. Who for lack of a better term was boring… to the rest of us immortals and gods she did nothing interesting. She and your other aunt Rhodes practically sat under the ocean and did nothing that influenced the mortal world unlike say Kymopoleia who did it for all the wrong reasons. I could not even tell you what Ariel was capable of as a demigod other than she could talk to fish and had a tail underwater, I know more about you from your prank this morning than the seventeen hundred years I knew about her."
"My powers are dangerous though, I killed someone because I got angry for a minor reason. I almost did the same upstairs I could have changed the density in an instant and crushed them both…" She exclaimed tearfully banging her small arms on the table hard enough for the glass to topple over and roll off the side before shattering on the floor. The girl flinching at the sound which echoed in the quiet house.
"But you did not, which means that you at least thought about what you were doing. Something I never did when I was younger, my younger decades were filled with stories of what I did to people who had slighted me. Some with which I looked back on afterwards as possible overreactions on my part. The last few months spent with your uncle have made do so once again as I realised I have spent three thousand years as a hypocrite. Even my own hunters were not safe from my wrath if one of them should stray from their oath. I denounced the concept of love at first sight as a mere story to make girls feel better about their futures, after all for much of human history girls have been used by even their parents as little more than bargaining chips to improve other's lives or standings with little to no choice in the matter in regards to their spouse. It is only in the last two centuries that things have started to improve and even then there are people or places that refuse to accept the notion that they are their own people and should be free to do as they wish. Back to my point though, I fell into the same trap as those I felt betrayed me in the past when I met your uncle. Sure it was mostly Diana's fault at first but I soon enough accepted the reality and embraced the concept of a relationship. Sure things got rushed due to some outside 'interference' but I do not regret my decision. I do however regret not hearing their side of the stories out. Though the key thing is I do not let my past mistakes define me, I made them and I have moved on because one thing you will learn in your life is if you do not, you will soon not find it worth living. Do not let your actions be controlled by your past sins; I know that better than anyone."
"How can I just forget that though?" She asked tears still running down her face.
"I did not say forget what you had done, remembering is part of our punishment. However use the experience to not repeat it in the future. As a goddess I cannot explain to you the concept of mortality truthfully as well as some of the hunters can, I have never lost something for good. I cannot compare anything to what you felt when you lost your mother and what happened as a result. The closest I have is when Zoe died the first time around, however the circumstances were different and she was content so I could solace in that fact. If you want the best person to speak to is Phoebe." I explained awkwardly hoping I was not digging a deeper hole.
The French girl in question was a much better person at dealing with emotional problems than I was. At the loss of her sister she had attempted to murder the French cardinal who had condemned Jeanne but had stayed her hand before doing the deed, in recognition that it would accomplish nothing in the long run.
However she was not aware that I had done so instead after she had left the building, I had recruited the then Catholic girl not long after as she walked around France doubting her beliefs in god and country. Even after affirming the existence of us gods and that the older girl had gone to Elysium I knew she still clung to part of her old beliefs as tightly as the partially melted and scorched cross in her pack.
It was almost to my relief when Zoe appeared around the corner of the door wearing a silver dressing gown with a curious look on her face. Evidently the sound of the glass shattering had drawn here attention downstairs.
"Lady Artemis… Marina?" The demi-Titan asked interrupting herself with a yawn.
"Morning Zoe." I said with a smile.
"Milady I think this still classifies as night, the moon is still out after all." The hunter said tiredly pointing out of the window behind me in the kitchen when the orb was still clearly visible.
"When did you wake up this late anyway, you used to be up this time every day?"
"When I gained a mortal body rather than a nymph's one. Things are so much more tiring now." She said complained sitting on a sofa heavily enough to cause it make a sound as if wood was cracking.
"I get it I am stronger now, that does not mean I should have to lower myself onto furniture as if it was fragile. I weigh exactly the same as someone else my size!" Zoe growled in frustration and bang her fist angrily off the cushion next to her causing it and the frame below to get crushed. The whole sofa now at an angle with her sitting there with a dejected frown on her face. As much as she tried to remain stoic around the other hunters, as an example for them to follow. I knew her newfound strength was starting to annoy her no end, the fact she was continuously breaking her preferred weapons was only exemplifying things. Goods news was it meant she replaced Phoebe as the arm wrestling champion without trying, accidently throwing the other girl halfway across the room by all accounts of those present.
"Zoe I will get Percy to fix it, it is not a problem." I reassured the huntress who was pinching her nose in annoyance.
"Can you make it a point for him to also fix my bed, cupboard, clothes zips and four toothbrushes so far?" She muttered in annoyance, evidently there was a bit more adjustments needed in her life getting used to newfound superhuman strength.
"Four? How hard are you trying to brush?" I asked unable to help myself from laughing at the image forming in my head. As strange as it was the only reason the hunters or even myself for that matter needed to brush our teeth was to stop bad breath, being immortal also protected us from harmful bacteria and tooth decay. In the past this meant eating things that smelled better but were generally awful to taste. The mortal invention of toothpaste had taken off on Olympus far faster than it did below. Zeus had wanted to make the inventor a god, until he went to go visit him and swiftly slept with his wife instead because the guy was out promoting his new product. No good deed goes unpunished at its finest, which was my father through and through.
Swiftly stifling my laughter as the daughter of Atlas glared at me, I noticed I was not the only one laughing as Marina chuckled to herself. Before long she calmed down and rubbed her hands against her eyes wiping away her tears.
"Marina see, all of us are unique in our powers and abilities and dangerous in our own rights as a result. However we cannot allow that to define us, you are what you choose to be. If you want you can choose to forgo using your gifts completely and allow your fear of them to control you. That choice is yours to make alone I am afraid, whatever you choose I will respect your wishes. I will not force my hunters to do something they do not wish."
"What about if some of those powers even you have no idea how it works and as a result terrify you?" She asked leaning down for a second before sitting up something now in her clenched hand.
"What do you mean—" I began to ask only to watch in horror as she opened her clenched hand revealing a shard of broken glass with which she swiftly sliced across the flesh on the back of her other arm. Curiously at the point of contact the flesh became almost liquid like as the sharp object passed through without resistance the flesh immediately turning normal again.
I wanted to ask how she knew she could not be harmed by physical damage but the truth was she had to have known now for a while. After all her uncle had tried to kill the girl and she had managed to survive, even a knife thrown from myself by accident had passed through her harmlessly. I would hazard a guess and say she was functionally immune to physical injuries with only heat and electricity able to actually do anything to her at all judging by Thalia's prank last night. It was the equivalent of having the blessing of the Styx without the negative aspects of the river thrown in. the only difference being that rather than blows bouncing off without effect they simply passed through the girl.
"Marina how can you be afraid of such a gift?" I asked almost in awe at the possibility, if Ariel had the same ability no wonder it never became known because she never got in any situation to get injured. This girl underwater would be pretty much unstoppable, invulnerable plus instant strength replacement as a result of being surrounded by water. The camp destroying maelstrom was now making a lot more sense. If anything the demi-god daughter was likely more powerful than her god father.
"People are supposed to bleed when they get injured but I do not, I do not even have blood. I am made of water." She stated her hand tightly squeezing the jagged shard hard enough for her fingers to turn clear as they flowed around the sharp object. The thing was I accepted the reality of what she was saying, but I was confused as to the actual practicality of it. The simple truth was any living being had blood or Ichor inside them. Even Gaia who was composed of rock and dirt had it inside her as did Pontus when he had allowed Percy to euthanize him. This girl could be no different, her body just changed as a result of perceived attacks.
Wait Pontus. Pontus had only been killed because he chose to be; otherwise any attack would have passed through him. He was after all the embodiment of the ocean and he was all of it.
Triton you sly bastard. There was a reason she could only control salt water.
She had never actually been in any danger from her uncle because Triton had made sure of it. He had transferred the power he had received from the Primordial to the girl. He only needed Percy's help in getting her out of the situation after all he could not hurt a mortal directly even to save his own child. If anything I was now unsure if the girl was still a demigod at all. Her father had likely re-written her own inherited powers with those he gained from the Primordial. She was in all likelihood the Lady of the Deep now.
"Marina you are not a normal person, but do not let that fact worry you. This is a blessing your father has given you to keep you safe so no one can ever hurt you again." I said trying to sound reassuring to the now highly likely young goddess in front of me. Either way I was going to be having words with the messenger of the seas after this. I did not appreciate being used.
"Listen I need you to go back to sleep for a while until everyone else is awake and then we can formally make you a hunter."
"You still want to make me a hunter, even though I am a freak."
"Oh definitely in your case, you have potential to be great you just don't realise it yet. Get some sleep today is going to be interesting." I said with a smile leaning over the table and rustling her hair causing the girl to smile albeit briefly as she attempted to stop me.
"Not my hair again mom." She protested before realising what she had said when I instinctively froze at the word. For a few seconds we both looked at one another before she ran off out of the room, her face clearly upset at what had just happened.
"Marina-." I went to step out of the chair to follow when I caught sight of Zoe doing the same already.
"Leave this to me Milady; I feel seeing you going could only make this worse." She said with a slight bow before follow the other girl upstairs, the sound of her footsteps significantly heavier than the smaller girl before her.
"Gods dammit." I cursed quietly at myself. I never tried to be a mother figure for my hunters for several reasons. First I never felt I was very good at it, due to my poor understanding of mortal issues especially in the past. I wanted them to see me as their goddess first and foremost, even those I did treat in a way that could be described as friendly it was still treated as having limits. Limits that Zoe understood and Thalia did not for example. Mostly because I did not want to replace the image the girls had of their parents. Most of them were orphans or in the case their mother was their immortal parent I did it out of respect for said parent. I only hoped I was better at understanding my own daughter than I was with most of my hunters.
"Speaking of parents, someone owes me some answers." I growled under my breath, if the son of Poseidon thought he could get away with his duplicity he had another thing coming.
"Artemis to what do I owe the pleas-urgh." The smiling god began only to get slapped.
"I know what you did 'Lord of the Deep', so how about we go somewhere private or we can discuss this here in front of your troops." I told him glaring into his sea-green eyes.
"Marina."
"Oh don't worry about her she is fine, how she can be anything but ok is the bigger question. Now get swimming or I will start talking really loudly. One thing I have learned about this kingdom is that secrets and rumours don't stay that way for long." I told him nodding my head in the direction of the fifty or so mermen who were looking between me and their lord with confusion for the most part, or outright seeming lust as some stared at me. Whilst I was still getting used to the concept of having a tail, I was at least now beginning to understand how to use it without looking like an idiot.
"Bill take command, I need to discuss some things with my future sister-in-law." He said quickly turning to one of the closest mermen who nodded and took his place at the front of the formation as Triton took my arm and lead me away toward a nearby outbuilding of the palace complex.
After making sure no one was inside, he pulled me inside and shut the door.
"You made her a goddess." I stated simply.
"No I didn't if I had done that, the fates would have announced it from the roof tops and we would not be hiding in a store room having this conversation."
"Then care to explain how she has much more in common with the abilities of a particular Primordial god than with her father. Notably her body is made of salt water and that she is completely invincible as a result." I demanded crossing my arms.
"Purely coincidence I gue-." He began only to get cut off as a knife appeared at his throat.
"Do not lie to me, what did you do to her?" I demanded once again pressing the point against his flesh a bit harder.
"What any parent would have done, I protected her." He said looking at me directly before brushing the blade away from his throat.
"Seeing as you have already figured it out, yes my daughter has the majority of my former domain of the Deep. However she is not a goddess I made sure of that, after all my brother would have picked up on that as soon as he met her, would he not." He remarked firmly swimming backwards from me before leaning against the wall behind him with cross arms.
"If you were willing to do that, why not go the whole way and make her a full goddess?" I asked confused.
"Because that would have given the game away now wouldn't it. The Fates would have no doubt blabbed to your father and he would have started questions as to what really happened with Pontus. At which point you and my brother would have been mentioned as well and things would have spiralled out of my control. Before long my father would have been dragged into another argument with Zeus and that would not be good for anyone. So at the cost of my own happiness I did what I could to protect my daughter and then asked someone else to do what I could not. I will not apologise for my deception of you. The only person I should apologise to is her." He explained with a sigh.
"Does she know what she is now?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"She knows she is different, but she is more freaked out by what she knows. I only figured it out because I noticed that she shared the same trait with Pontus. But as for the reality of her condition, no. The only people who know are me and you." I explained as he nodded his head.
"I know that I am not in any position to make demands but may I ask that you please do not. Someday I will reveal the truth to her but she needs to experience the happier things in life first, for the last year, all she has known is pain and suffering since her mother died. I hope that you can show her differently." He asked bowing his head.
"To think that I thought you were another dead beat father like all the rest in our family, I am almost impressed. The only thing holding you back is the fact you hesitated because of what others would have thought or done. You are a prince of the seas; you are not supposed to fear what those outside your dominion would think. My father can cry about things all he wants but remember you have people who will back your corner too." I told him before turning around towards the exit.
"Artemis."
"Don't you dare try and apologise or make any further excuses; you do not owe me that. However at some point you will have to explain to a little girl her true reality, I only ask that you do not wait too long. We do not need another Kymopoleia running around." I told him firmly only for him to chuckle.
"She knew the truth immediately. As soon as I told her how she killed the merman boy she figured it out. After all there is no way an ordinary demigod can crush one to death with pressure, even a normal ocean god or goddess like you or me would struggle. After all Kym had apparently tried it numerous times."
"That was why she is nice to you but hates your parents, because she understood that despite your problems and differences in upbringing, you cared about your child more than your own powers and prestige."
"Perhaps, I can hope. One day I may work up the courage to complete the process. But bravery and foolishness are two sides of the same coin and Percy was given a better share of them than me. I am sure you can attest to that." He said with a chuckle before disappearing into air bubbles leaving me alone with new found respect for the god. My only hope was that he did not wait too long before coming clean.
(Diana)
Sometimes I wish it was possible to just sit back and enjoy the moment as I kneeled on the mattress with my Fiance's head upon my lap. The Titan Lord asleep and oblivious to me delicately stroking his black hair in a halfhearted effort to impose order on the mess it invariably became as soon as I stopped.
At first I had been annoyed that he had gone back to sleep but the truth was I understood his probable reasoning. I could well admit guilt for most of his lost sleep periods in the last few days and I was sure my counterpart could claim the others. Though of course if my Greek aspect knew what happened last night, she would probably try and kill us. After all it was her that came up with the stupid no sex thing before we got married; technically I hadn't broken the promise. But the line was a bit blurry and open to interpretation.
Speaking of the devil, I watched as she materialized in front of me with a partial stumble as she waited for her tail to transform back into two appendages. Quite where she had been underwater in a house less than a hundred feet away was beyond me. Of course all that became irrelevant once she spotted me cradling the sleeping Titan. Fortunately I had decided to at least throw the duvet over his still mostly naked body.
'You were supposed to be waking him up.' She mentally asked aggressively.
'I did but he apparently chose to change his mind. I just reconsidered that maybe he could have some time off, besides I even made breakfast.' I told her pointing at the small tray sitting on the cupboard closest to the door. It was not exactly anything special and by that it was whatever I could find in the cupboard that was not past its prime (basically Muesli with long life milk and a few slices of plain toast.). The former tenant had not done a very good job of catering for others. Well technically he did, just in a way that he was not planning to I suppose. Besides it was not as if I was going to get caught walking around Walmart with a cart full of groceries.'
I half expected my counterpart to find some grounds of complaint but instead she merely shrugged and grabbed a half slice of toast.
'So how did things go with Marina?' I inquired curiously.
'Well all things considered I only made her cry a few times, before she ran off when I apparently reminded her of her mother.' She explained despite having a mouth full before shrugging with resignation.
'Strange I got the impression her mother was a nice person.' I teased as the Greek aspect paused mid chew to give me a withering look.
'Calm down I was joking besides I am sure you will be a great mother.' I remarked with a smile.
'I mean if you weren't then I win by default, right?' I teased triumphantly as her face became one of rage only for me to point at the sleeping Titan as a reminder. I felt kind of bad using my sleeping fiancé as a meat shield but he was proving to be very effective at it.
"When he wakes up I am going to make you pay for that comment." She hissed audibly across the room as she continued to glare. I chose to ignore her for a few minutes as I instead resumed my futile effort to rearrange Percy's fringe.
"By the way I was going to tell you something I just learned but I am not anymore, don't even think about trying to become one with me again either to find out." She said indignantly, little did she know that whatever secret she had found was nowhere near as bad as what I had done. So her threat of not sharing a body with me was more a less a godsend. The best bit was she instigated the exile which meant I would not look suspicious for refusing to do so.
"Fine with me, I like having personal space and not being stuck in your stuffy condescending head." I argued half-heartedly to seal the deal.
"Whatever, I take it you are going with Reyna to keep an eye on the senate or are you just going to lounge around here all day?"
"You say that like you don't trust me." I remarked enjoying keeping this charade going.
"I don't trust you, can you blame me?" She asked her eyes narrowed as she glared at me.
The accusation problem would have offended me were it not for the fact she was right. The truth was we were both as bad as one another when it came to the young Titan. If anything we were both trying to one up the other whilst only having a ceiling limit on what was not acceptable to do. Still I was pretty certain I was winning that competition by a country mile at this point.
"That works both ways you know, I have been in your head, and it is not exactly PG in there either." I shot back only to cringe as my raised tone caused Percy to stir.
'We will discuss this later.' She told me mentally as the Titan opened his eyes groggily.
'We won't.' I thought to myself as I put on a smile before looking down into the Green/Gold eyes of my future husband.
(Thalia)
"I am sorry would you like to repeat that Centurion." Artemis asked the leader of the small squad of legionaries in front of us flatly.
"I cannot allow Lord Perseus to enter the Senate Hall, otherwise a number of the Senators have refused to attend the meeting, due to the safety of those present not being guaranteed."
"First of all it is Percy not Perseus, second of all, that was not even technically me. Third your previous Praetor started that when he shot me!" Seaweed Brain argued back clearly annoyed. Up until a few seconds ago Percy had been wearing the biggest grin. Something I had attributed to being related to the state of undress Diana had been sporting earlier this morning. It did not take a genius to put two and two together.
Still while it kept my sister(s?) occupied and off of my back in regards to my 'girlfriend' it was fine by me. Besides the idiot deserved at least some happiness, though whether all three of them in the relationship were happy was up for debate judging by the glares that had been getting thrown from one goddess to the other all morning.
"Lucius your authority as a Centurion does not give you any more right to order a god around than I do as a Praetor. If Percy wan-"
"Exactly Praetor he is not a god so he does not have any right at all. He is merely here as Lady Diana's consort." The Centurion argued back as Artemis's eye twitched nervously as she glared at the Centurion who was seemingly focusing on addressing the Roman goddess instead.
"He is also standing right here. First of all If my memory serves me right eighteen months ago I was a Praetor in this very city, second yes I am not a god but my father is Neptune the 'Roman' god." Percy said sarcastically.
"Milord be that as it may be, the simple fact is that I cannot allow you in or the senate will not sit for it. Last week's debacle is still fresh in the minds. I was not the greatest fan of either of our last Praetors but the fact remains you killed Octavian and the border scouts never reported Steven leaving the boundary after his exile."
"Technically I never killed Octavian much as I wanted too, as for the fat one I never actually touched him, I was rather busy dealing with my aspect at the time. However for the sake of peace have it your way, sorry Reyna." Percy said with a sigh running his hand through his hair as the Centurion let out a sigh of relief.
"I wouldn't look so happy with yourself if I was you, I am still attending." Diana said with a feral looking grin causing him to gulp and turn visibly pale. That was part of Percy's influence on the two goddesses, they were less likely to actually do something but their ability to terrify with only words had certainly improved.
I got the feeling the three of them were talking among one another mentally because I noticed Artemis turn to her counterpart who merely smiled before turning to Percy.
"Go have fun besides how bad could things end up." Diana said laughing before walking past the Centurion who barely had time to move out of the way. Myself and Reyna following dutifully on behind leaving the immortal couple together. I should have realised at that point that she was testing the Fates and turned around and run away as fast as possible. It would have saved everyone a lot of trouble.
(Percy)
As I sat on the raised edge of a fountain in the temple district of the city cradling a coffee cup I couldn't help but feel annoyed. I had ended up walking out of the coffee shop due to the fact that as soon as I was recognised everyone had seemingly moved as far away from me as humanly possible. Whatever camaraderie I had built up with the Romans was gone, due to a situation I had little control over. Once again this damned city had managed to frankly piss me off with its political bigotry.
I was honestly not bothered with them not letting myself in, considering my track record. I was two for two on Praetors who got on the wrong side of me even if I did not kill either. Maimed most certainly, killed not quite.
No I was annoyed that the truth was this place held so much promise and yet wasted it on squabbling. Even Olympus and Orthrys had started to get on, it was baby steps but those were still steps forward in the right direction. And yet the demigods were still fractured, a problem I could only see getting worse as time went on. On my way here I had almost literally run into Clarisse who had likewise been told that only Romans were allowed in with the sole exception of herself as she actually held a military rank in the Legion. A result of 'large doses of ass-kicking' as she put it modestly, her father's blessing may have helped.
The Greek/Roman divide was not the end of it though, there was one other faction that was going to come into play eventually. The demi-Titans.
Fortunately the only known example was Zoe which was the only reason there was no problem currently, after all it was obvious she would go back with the Hunters.
Of course if my fellow Titan's ended up like their godly offspring then there was a good chance of a third faction. I did not want a repeat of the past inter-camp conflicts that had forced them to be separated. Because separation and conflict would only escalate until their parents were involved and then we had a third war on our hands.
"You know if you frown anymore, you will end up looking like my father." Artemis commented with concern. The goddess had seemingly lightened up since leaving her counterpart. The tension between the pair was noticeable to pretty much anyone.
"For once I can actually see why he is always frowning, having to juggle everyone's problems with who or what is more important. No matter what someone always makes him out to be the bad guy. You try your hardest to help but in the end you are still called an asshole by someone." I explained with a sigh only for thunder to boom overhead.
"I am agreeing with you for once! So cut me some slack." I shouted up at the sky.
"Did you seriously just agree with my father? The world hasn't exploded yet… who knew." Artemis remarked dryly.
"Very funny. Though I would wonder how he de-stresses, never mind I think I have already thought of it." I said laughing with a fake shudder.
"Speaking of which. Did you have sex with Diana last night?" She asked deadpan as I choked on the mouthful of coffee I had just taken.
"Technically no, at least not in that sense." I admitted guiltily. We had done some... well a lot of things but technically i was telling the truth about doing it in the conventional sense of the term.
"Good." She said emotionlessly taking an interest in her own cup as she swirled the contents around.
"Not to be taking anything for granted but is that it?" I asked nervously.
"What else is there to discuss? I asked you a question you answered honestly as far as I can tell. I do not need to know the details of what you actually did. That is between you and her, much as she likes to think otherwise I do respect your privacy. If I did not then well… there would be a crater in the middle of the city." She explained matter of factly taking a sip.
"Artemis…"
"Conversations ended Seaweed Brain, let it go. All I ask is that you do not do so until we are married."
'At which point I will not play second fiddle to her.' She added mentally whilst outwardly taken a larger mouthful.
"Who would have thought we would see the day Artemis would be on a date outside our temple." A young woman's voice called mockingly. Looking up I noticed the pair of classically dressed woman looking at us almost condescendingly. Next to me Artemis was gritting her teeth and growling before seemingly calming down with a deep breath and looking up at them as well.
"Octavia I suggest you choose your next words carefully, my aunts blessing may make you immortal as long as the eternal flame burns but I can always put it to the test." Artemis threatened.
"Really Lady Artemis threatening one of Lady Vesta's Priestess's?" The other one said smugly.
"Actually I was threatening you both. I do not care who you are."
"See sister this is why the Greeks were always uncultured, too quick to resort to violence."
What happened next was almost a blur as Artemis gently passed me the cup she was holding before surging forward at the girl now holding a hunting knife. The girl however simply held up a hand as a wall of flame burst out of the ground in front of her. Artemis barely had time to react as she pulled back from the searing flames. The tip of the bronze knife melting from the brief exposure.
What was curious to me was the fact the girls were both pure mortals, faint legacies at best and yet they were standing in the centre of a maelstrom of fire completely un-bothered by the heat and flames.
Well they were until someone behind me clicked their fingers and the flames instantly disappeared. Leaving the girls only a few feet separate from a feral looking Artemis who had already replaced the melted knife.
"Artemis I could do without my niece murdering my aides, it would be a pain to find new ones." A women's voice called sternly and almost immediately Artemis straightened up and dissipated the knives. The two girls however had lost their confidence and were looking like deer's caught in headlights.
The identity of the goddess behind me was obvious even without the familial address she gave Artemis. Her identity was obvious enough from her appearance even though it was completely different from her Greek aspect. After all the fact she seemed to be permanently smouldering gave it away.
As it was the eldest Olympian actually looked a bit more appropriate for her position appearing as a black haired woman in her late thirty's by my guess. The most striking feature however was the fact she seemed to constantly release embers when she moved creating a trail a few inches behind her.
"Girls would you kindly return to the flame, I can do without those foolish fauns thinking they can toast their marshmallows on it when no one is around." She asked kindly but I got the feeling the two had overstepped their authority and were going to regret it as they were both enshrouded in flames for a second before disappearing.
"Vesta." I addressed politely.
"Percy Jackson." She said with a slight bow, making me feel uneasy as this goddess deferred to me.
"Artemis that makes two times you have tried to kill the twins now, please do not make a habit out of it." Vesta said laughing as the other goddess joined me at my side.
"And they need to remember that Augustus being their grandfather does not give them the right to address me however they want."
"Their arrogance is a work in progress but they are good at their job, otherwise I would not have kept them around this long. What century are we in now?" She asked curiously.
"Aunt you need to get out more." Artemis said deadpan as the older goddess merely shrugged releasing a small cavalcade of embers as a result.
"Why? I have my own city full of people that revere me." She said holding her arms out in the direction of the city below.
"Besides it is cold out there, passed the city boundaries." She explained and I couldn't help but laugh at the concept of a goddess seemingly made of fire not liking the cold weather of California of all places.
"When was the last time you left exactly?" Artemis asked curiously.
"When did Attila attack? I took the weekend off because Juno forced me to and well we all know how that turned out." The older goddess explained as Artemis face palmed.
"Still it is not so bad, this country is a lot nicer climate than Britain ever was, putting the camp on that accursed northern wall, I could count the days where it was habitable outside on one hand. What was it called then?"
"Newcastle." Artemis offered as the other goddess sneered at the name.
The strange thing was that I realised she was the complete opposite of Diana. Diana had been supervising the moon chariot for millennia and yearned to get away. Vesta wanted nothing more than to stay close to what she knew as if afraid of the world outside.
"Do you find me strange Percy?" The older goddess asked having noticed me staring at her for too long.
"Unusual would be better term, how do you know who I am if you don't get out much?"
"Hestia comes by and drops off little newsletters with important things that have happened. Congratulation I guess, I guess that just leaves me and Minerva as the virgin goddesses. Though of course she cheats and still has children." She said with a shrug.
"Newsletters seriously?" I asked with a chuckle.
"Yes we talk about things over sandwiches once a month, it used to be once a week but it seems she has become a lot busier since gaining her status as a council member back. Something I understand was your fault. Still not that I am complaining, at least I do not have to go to those accursed meetings." She remarked with disdain.
"See Artemis someone else who thinks meetings are a waste of time." I said laughing.
"From what I hear you seem to make them quite interesting, I heard how you put my little brother in his place at the last one." She said whilst smiling looking me directly in the eyes, as I noticed the fiercely burning flames contained within hers. though I noticed she was able to talk condescending about the King of the gods without thunder rumbling, clearly the younger sibling knew his place very well.
"One way of putting it, not that it was that simple." I laughed nervously looking away whilst rubbing the back of my head.
"No I don't suppose it would be. Still I am keeping you both and I must speak to my priestess's about their conduct. Have fun." Vesta replied as if getting distracted by something and suddenly vanishing in a burst of flames leaving the pair of us alone.
"So what do you think of Vesta, how you imagined her to be?" Artemis remarked with amusement looking at me.
"Well she looks the part, as for her personality…"
"She is not a people person. Still she does her job well, as long as she tends the flame this city will never fall."
"Still I was quite surprised that those priestesses could stand up to you."
"I forgot that they are essentially adopted children of Vesta despite being mortals by birth."
"And her being the oldest Olympian, they are pretty much the equivalent of a child of the big three." I guessed as she nodded in affirmation.
"The problem with the Vestal virgins was always that they were selected from upper class mortal families, who became involved with us immortals and thought they were suddenly equals. Those two were bad before that due to being part of the imperial family. The fact that their own power relates to their number only makes things worse. It was not so bad when there was lots of them during the high points of the Empire, but with the decline in belief towards us gods and the times that followed the fall of Rome. Well those two are all that is left and their power is amplified as a result, fortunately they cannot move to far away from the flame or they lose their power until they return." Artemis explained as I merely nodded in agreement, basically understanding the less of them there were the more powerful they were.
"Still you need to work on your temper a little, hard to believe I am the calm one out of the two of us." I said putting my arm around her shoulder and pulling her against me. Overhead thunder rumbled out of the blue as it began to rain going from dry to torrential in a matter of seconds. Something that caused the few locals distantly visible to run for shelter. Maybe Vesta had noticed the change in weather before it had arrived as well hastening her departure.
"Something has seemingly annoyed my father and for once I do not think it was you." Artemis said with concern looking up into the sky with a frown. Before noticing the hand held in front of her holding my cup still and quickly relieving it from me.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing and besides that is mine." I protested weakly.
"I paid for it." She said simply continuing to take a sip before cringing in disgust and passing it back hurriedly before taking her own from my other hand.
By this point the torrent was almost Hurricane levels as the cobbled surface of the street had turned into a small river. We however were both stone dry and could have been none the wiser.
"What was that anyway?" Artemis asked after swirling her mouth out with whatever she had.
"Cappucino. It is what people buy at coffee shops."
"Speak for yourself…Hey!" She shouted as curiosity got the better of me and I snuck my free hand in front of her and pried it from her grasp before sucking on the straw.
I only managed a mouthful before the inevitable kidney punch made me hand it back.
"Don't worry the nectar should heal that discomfort in a few seconds." She said sarcastically as my now free hand again cupped my side. I was still astounded that Starbucks stocked divine drinks. What was next, Ambrosia cubes at a Walmart home bakery?
"Anyway come on Seaweed Brain, the hunters must be back at the house in this weather and I want to see how Marina is getting along." She said as we both disappeared from the empty street.
(Artemis)
"Ok what did I do wrong this time?" Percy said as he looked at the Roman Olympian King in front of us.
"Believe it or not Jackson not everything revolves around you." Ares grunted.
"Ok then let me try, Father what in hades name are you doing here!" I demanded of my Father's Roman aspect. After my initial shock at seeing Jupiter sitting in the lounge of the Hunter's/Reyna's House it had swiftly been replaced at anger at seeing my half-brothers foul Greek aspect. I could at least tolerate Mars as he had some sense of civility and even honour. But as I looked at his usual form I couldn't help but see the worst of males in Ares.
"One second dear, thank you Miss Nightshade." Jupiter said taking a cup of tea from Zoe who bowed simply before taking to standing by the far wall. I had noticed upon arrival that the rest of the hunters were seemingly hiding in the rest of the house.
"Is a father not allowed to see his daughter?" Jupiter said almost cheerfully before taking a sip of the drink.
"In most cases yes, but we are not most cases. In fact this is the only case you have ever done this in three thousand years. This normally works on a we must to come to you basis." I said folding my arms as my father sighed.
"Fair point Artemis, however do you have any idea what transpired inside the Senate House a few minutes ago."
"Did someone get shot in the head again?" Percy said with irritation, his whole body was tensed up as he gazed at my father as if waiting for him to drop the teacup and grab the master bolt.
"Sadly not, in that event the victim normally gets back up and dismembers his assailant." My father retorted wittily as Percy looked at him dumbly blinking.
"You told a joke, you do have a sense of humour after all." Percy said with amazement before I clipped him around the back of the head.
"What happened?" I asked seriously.
"I will let Ares explain."
"I figured he was only here for your protection." Percy commented dryly.
"Actually it is the other way around, I am here to protect him. Get on with Ares if I spend to long here your mother will spend the rest of the day thinking I have been off cavorting with mortals again." Jupiter told Ares firmly before deciding to take interest in his tea. Though his eyes kept moving between the pair of us two.
"To put it simply your Lieutenant Thalia caused a bit of commotion with a few of the Senators who demanded to know why she was there. At which point Diana ended up defending her and got into an argument with Piper, who for who knows what reason decided to get involved. At which point Reyna tried to get some order going before the Senate decided she was playing favourites." Ares summarised with annoyance. I wanted to comment former Lieutenant but the point still stood.
"Sounds like a normal meeting in fairness so far." Percy commented to which Jupiter agreed by nodding. Ok the fact that these two were actually acknowledging the other without trying to maim was a feat in itself.
"The problem was Thalia seemingly impulsively went in Reyna's defence and drew a sword and challenged the guy in question to a fight." He explained as my Ichor froze.
"Oh shit." I muttered to myself.
"Someone please explain because I did exact same thing and I did not get personal visits from the King of the gods."
"The difference is Jackson you were a guest who was threatened and attacked first, you or rather Perseus merely defended yourself which is not illegal, even if what you did was a little… unnecessary. This time it was the other way around, a guest threatened the Senate with a drawn weapon when they were unarmed which can be seen as a declaration of war."
"So what you here to tell us to get out of the city or something? Because if this place so much as raises a finger against any Hunter you will need to find a new city." Percy growled his eyes narrowing.
"Fun as that would be…" Ares remarked only for my father to cough into his hand.
"Unfortunately Diana managed to gag Thalia before she managed to physically impale anyone. However she did not get away freely with the threat."
"Get it over with already Ares you are beginning to annoy me." I demanded.
"Two days. Field of Mars. Hunters vs. Camp Jupiter and Half-Blood." He said almost giddily.
"Wait both camps at the same time, how in the name of hades is that fair!" I demanded only for Percy to work it out to everyone's surprise.
"Because Clarisse was present and she would not miss an opportunity to get revenge after all she has lost twice already."
"That is like two hundred against twenty!"
"Actually it is two hundred and one against nineteen. Ares carry on." Jupiter remarked and I got the feeling he was being extremely specific which was more worrying. I knew how many hunters I had.
"First off you two and the cat from hell are not playing this time, likewise the twerps are not playing for them. Demigods and Demi-Titans in your case Nightshade only and whatever other minorities you have amongst you. The camps are only allowed to use whomever is an active legionary at present or in the Greeks case actually in this city at present. No calling back up of retirees or reinforcements from Camp Half-Blood." He explained and that was the only point of solace I had taken so far, otherwise it could have potentially been more like three hundred campers.
"That is still incredibly one sided considering it is an open field with no cover." Percy commented.
"Do you think we would seriously have an open field battle with those numbers? Of course not punk… it is assault CTF with you lot attacking." Ares said smiling sickly. There was not a hope in hell of the hunters being able to pull this off, in defence it might have been possible for their fewer number being able to pull off some sort of defensive strategy or at least force a pyrrhic victory.
"So if the six are not playing who is commanding the camps because neither has someone in charge?" Percy commented curiously.
"Clarisse has been promoted to temporary Legate. As for the Romans; they have their Praetor of course. She does not really have a choice now does she? Reyna either does her job or it is treason against the city… punishable by death." Ares said happily as I hurriedly stepped in front of Percy who had taken a step towards the Greek god.
"Father you cannot be serious! She is my Huntress."
"Yes she is however as the only available field commander available to the Legion and the fact that her oath to the city predates hers to you. The cities claim is stronger, likewise if she intentionally throws the battle. The punishment still stands my dear. A few more days and she would have been free to play for you but time is not on your side my dear." Jupiter remarked as Ares snickered at the seemingly unintentional pun.
"Right then we must be off; you are going to need all the time you can to prepare. I think you may need it." Jupiter said standing up before placing his cup and saucer on a nearby table. Without another word he disappeared in a flash of light. Zoe narrowly averting her eyes to avoid getting atomised.
"You have no idea how much I am going to enjoy watching this." Ares said happily.
"If I find out that you had something to do with orchestrating this or one of the Hunters ends up seriously hurt. Your father will not be able to protect you from me; a god is the only thing I have not killed now. I may just complete the set at last." Percy threatened through clenched teeth.
"Punk if it was not for my other aspect, they would already be in serious danger. You're lucky this is a game and not an actual war. Catch you later." He said gruffly before also vanishing at the exact same time as Diana and Thalia appeared across the room. Both of whom looked at me sheepishly.
"Zoe can you kindly gather the rest of the hunters, we need to have a chat."
AN. Well that took a lot longer than planned and ended up being able three chapters rolled into one. I would like to apologise if things seem a little messy or rushed but the simple fact is between authors block and a lack of interest in sitting down and actually focusing on writing this, this is what you will have to deal with. The problem i have always had with writing is that i go into too much detail and narrate EVERYTHING. there is no real passage of time a week takes about thirty chapters. It has literally been a week at this point (29/12/2012 if you are keeping track) since the solstice and that was about 18 months ago i posted that chapter if not longer.
The fact is apart from the next chapter which is planned out in full for the most part. Chapters will either be shorter and more specific in their content. (a few scenes only) or just more insights into what happens as i try to get some time moving. We have an end goal and i intend to reach it before the end of the decade. Hell i even gave up on SHOI for the time being otherwise it will completely spoilerise this before long.
Still i hope whomever still reads this enjoys the chapter and doesn't have to wait to long for the next.